I’ve recently become a champion for cross-country skiing. I don’t mean that I’m any good at it. I shuffle along at a relatively slow pace. Sometimes I manage to glide gracefully before wobbling, flailing and falling in the snow.
By champion, I mean that I’m a fan of the activity and I’m constantly trying to persuade others to give it a try.
“It’s easy,” I tell my friends and family. “All you have to do is shuffle and glide, wobble and flail.”
I’m not experienced enough at skiing to instruct anyone in proper form, but I have given friends a few pointers here and there, when I find that I can’t help myself.
Just a few days ago, for instance, a friend of mine reported to me that her hands were tired and sore after she tried cross-country skiing for the first time.
“That can’t be normal,” she said, looking at me askance.
The moment was akin to when I spot a clue in a crossword puzzle and think “Oh! I know the answer to this one!”
I explained that she shouldn’t be gripping her poles tightly. Instead, she should put the weight of her hands on the straps at the end of the poles. In fact, some poles (like mine) have special straps that adjust to fit around your hands perfectly.
Sharing this little detail made me realize that cross-country skiing isn’t as simple as I thought. Nevertheless, I stand by the opinion that learning this winter activity is fairly easy, especially if you start by skiing on flat, well-groomed trails with a track to guide you.
The sport has a shallow learning curve and is gentle on your body if you stick to trails that are within your comfort zone, which is why I keep suggesting it to family and friends.
This hit home for me earlier this winter when a friend with back pain found cross-country skiing to be less painful than walking. The gliding motion is easy on joints and jostles the body less than snowshoeing or post-holing through snow.
That’s why people often continue to cross-country ski as they age, though they may drop higher-impact outdoor activities.
I’ve been so enthusiastic about getting people to try cross-country skiing lately that I posted about it on social media. In response, several people asked where they should rent equipment and practice on easy trails.
A comprehensive list of cross-country ski locations in Maine would quickly overwhelm this column. Whether you’re new to the sport or have so much experience that you ski like a swan gliding across a pond, the state is full of trails for you to enjoy, plus places where you can rent skis and poles.
One of my favorite locations is the Narrow Gauge Pathway in Carrabassett Valley. The wide, groomed trail follows the bed of an old railway and traces the shore of the scenic Carrabassett River. Measuring about 6.5 miles long, it gently descends with the river, without any notable hills, making it an excellent route for beginners.
Nearby, the Sugarloaf Outdoor Center offers a fabulous network of groomed trails, plus rental equipment.
Other places that offer rental equipment and easy trails include Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, Penobscot River Trails in Grindstone, New England Outdoor Center in Millinocket, Quarry Road Trails in Waterville and Fort Kent Outdoor Center in Fort Kent.
If you’re just starting out, groomed trails are nice because they’ve been smoothed by a groomer, typically a snowmobile dragging a grooming device.
In addition, groomed trails often feature two parallel tracks, indents in the snow where you can place your skis. These tracks serve as guardrails that keep your skis from crossing or spreading too far apart as you learn to kick and glide.
Hills are the biggest problem for beginners. In fact, a big hill can be downright scary because it’s easy to get going too fast. That’s why it’s important to start with easy trails, which are usually outlined with green on trail maps.
Learning to navigate hills on cross-country skis requires practicing “pizza,” where you create the shape of a pizza slice with your skis as you move downhill. This shape, with the front tips of the skis close together and the back tips far apart, allows you to dig the edges of your skis into the snow to slow down.
You can do the opposite when trudging uphill, placing the front tips of your skis far apart so you can dig in the edges and gain purchase. You can also side-step up a steep hill.
This all takes practice.
I’ve been cross-country skiing, sporadically, for about 10 years. I’m becoming more comfortable with hills, but just a few days ago, I came to a massive hill and decided to unclip my skis and walk down in my boots. That’s always an option.
Learning correct form helps. You can take a lesson, ski with someone who has experience or watch instructional videos online.
Just give it a try. Shuffle and glide, wobble and flail.
